A lonnggggg time ago.

and we refer to certain type's of programming styles as BT's way.

Note: He's REALLY unhappy if a google cache picks up his full name. And it is a perfectly reasonable fear, there are crazy fuckers out there who intersect with his life occasionally. If possible, please get his name out of your title.

He read the 1st 50 pages yesterday. I asked him what he learned. We talked for about 20 minutes of the various things that the book taught him that he would NEVER learn merely by reading someone else's code. And then I pointed out since those were all total unknowns, in the realm of possibility, to him, what else might he be missing?

He just got a hint of the size of the universe. It's big. Really big.

It was a good lesson.

One of the lessons was to stop trying to show off how smart he was. If he can do something in 1 line or 5 lines, do it in 5 and document it well. Put comments in that describe the thought process that led you to this code.

Be able to hand it off to someone else, and do not allow the fact they are a "junior" stop you from doing it. Make damn sure the code is clear enough for them to handle it, or black box it 100% and table drive.

Be ready for the attacks. This language is not someone's favorite at the job, and the second she learns you are productive in it she'll try to isolate you and have you fired. Really. Computer language wars are just like culture wars, and ethnic cleansing is the norm whenever possible.

Be fireable.
Be promotable.
Be worth 50% more than they are paying you.